性情暴戾者，事事不如人
[121] Those [With] Dispositions Cruel [And] Fierce, [Are In] Every Matter Not As Good As Other Persons
汝既知性情暴戾，当时时作「我事事不如人」想。
You, since knowing [your] disposition [i.e. ‘natural’ emotions] [is] cruel [and] fierce, should constantly have ‘I [am in] every matter not as good as [other] persons’ [as] thought.
[Note 1: Being quick and ill tempered over many matters is to be heavily poisoned by the anger, the second but most swiftly destructive of the three poisons (三毒) of greed, hatred and delusion (贪嗔痴). Just this alone, in terms of poor anger management skills, makes it true that one is ‘not as good as other persons’. Even if one has other meritorious virtues (功德), anger ‘burns’ to destroy them quickly every time it flares up. In this way, one really can become ‘not as good as other persons’ in ‘every matter’.]
纵人负我德，亦当作我负人德想。
Even if [other] persons betray my virtues, [you] also should have ‘I [have] betrayed [other] persons’ virtues’ [as] thought.
[Note 2: When others betray our virtues, this is karmically due to us having betrayed others’ virtues in the past, even if not remembered. It is also karmically natural that others tend to let down those habitually angry, especially if we were unreasonably angry towards them, which is to betray others’ virtues.]
觉自己对一切人皆有愧怍，歉憾无已，则暴戾之气，便无由生矣。
Feeling oneself, towards all people, [to] all having shame, apologies [and] regrets endlessly, thus [will] anger that [is] cruel [and] fierce, then [be] without cause [to] arise.
[Note 3: Since there is only one thought in each moment, when repentant qualities opposite of anger are constantly present, anger will not be able to arise at all. For example, where there is much ice in a place, there cannot be even a single small flame in the same place.]
[Note 4: There should also be mindfulness of Buddha (念佛) permeated in everyday life, such that evil qualities (like anger), which are the opposite of the purity he represents, will not arise. With mindfulness of Buddha, connecting to his blessings, one becomes more ‘Buddha-like’ in the moment, thus less likely to become angry, in the next moment too.]
[Note 5: If there is yet to be substantial improvement in anger management (or anger dissolution) despite practising mindfulness of Buddha, this means practice is not substantial enough yet – needing more sincerity and diligence.]
凡暴戾之气，皆从傲慢而起。既觉自己处处抱歉，自然气馁心平，不自我慢贡高以陵人。
All anger that [is] cruel [and] fierce, all from arrogance then arises. Since feeling oneself [to be] everywhere apologetic, naturally [will] anger [be] discouraged [and your] mind [be] calm, not because [of] conceit [and] pride, with [these] bullying people.
[Note 6: Anger stems from arrogance, which originates from attachment to self, which is the fundamental delusion. Ironically, while those arrogant are strongly attached to their illusory self, they actually have nothing substantial to be arrogant about. Awareness of arrogance is thus cause to have humility instead – with shame, apologies and regrets.]
净土宗十三祖印光大师
Pure Land Tradition’s 13th Patriarch Great Master Yìnguāng
《印光法师文钞》（三编）：复郝智熹书；
Dharma Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings (Third Compilation): Reply Letter [To] Hǎo Zhìxī;
印光大师文钞菁华录（第一百二十一则）：三、示修持方法：丙、明对治习气（第二十八则）
Record [Of] Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence (121st Short Section): 3rd [Chapter]: Guidance [On] Practice Methods: Third, Clear Remedies [For] Habitual Tendencies (28th Short Section)
[Ref: #121 / 3.3.28]
Namo Amituofo : Translation and notes by Shen Shi’an
相关典籍
Related Text:
《印光大师文钞菁华录》
Record Of Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence
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